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CarCareTruthProducts · Ranked

Paraffin Waxes

  • Waxes
  • CAS 8002-74-2

Paraffin Waxes (CAS 8002-74-2) appears in 4 of the 1,812 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of June 2026).

Low acute toxicity in normal handling. Not irritating to skin or eyes at typical concentrations. No H-codes at the ingredient level for standard paraffin wax fractions. Inert in paste form; molten paraffin carries thermal-burn risk not present in room-temperature paste-wax applications.

Paraffin waxes are solid, refined petroleum fractions (straight-chain alkanes, C20–C40 range) used in paste waxes, polishes, and coatings as the protective film-forming wax component. They are distinct from carnauba wax (a plant-derived hard wax) and from microcrystalline waxes (branched-chain petroleum fractions with higher molecular weight).

In paste car wax formulations, paraffin wax contributes to the protective layer deposited on paint after the solvent carrier evaporates. It provides water-repellency and a moderate level of surface hardness. Carnauba wax formulas often blend paraffin with natural waxes — paraffin is harder and cheaper than carnauba but lacks the warm optical depth carnauba is prized for.

SDS §3 disclosure of paraffin wax in a "carnauba" paste wax is significant: when paraffin is the only disclosed wax component and carnauba is absent from §3, the carnauba content either falls below the SDS disclosure threshold (<1%) or is withheld as a trade secret. The disclosed wax chemistry is paraffin-dominant regardless of marketing claims.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
no
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
yes
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
4/5
Purpose: Protective wax film; coating and sealing agent in paste waxes and polishes

Common questions about Paraffin Waxes

What is Paraffin Waxes used for in car care?
Protective wax film; coating and sealing agent in paste waxes and polishes
Is Paraffin Waxes a VOC?
No. Paraffin Waxes is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Paraffin Waxes on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Paraffin Waxes is not on California's Proposition 65 list.

4 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.